Derek Mason has been reported as a candidate for other jobs in past offseasons, including Colorado recently. But he wants to be at Vanderbilt.
Adam Sparks, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Ball State transfer Riley Neal , left, is considering Vanderbilt as his next school. Deuce Wallace returns to Vanderbilt in January after serving a semester-long suspension.(Photo11: USA TODAY Sports Network)

Mo Hasan, a one-time Syracuse player, served reasonably well as Shurmur’s backup this season. Three-star freshman Allan Walters took a redshirt this season. And Vanderbilt signed three-star prospect Jamil Muhammad, a dual-threat quarterback, on Wednesday.

It will make for a crowded quarterback competition in 2019, which will span from winter workouts to next season. As Shurmur prepares to pass Jay Cutler as Vanderbilt’s all-time career passer in the Dec. 27 Texas Bowl against Baylor, here are some factors to consider in picking his successor:

Starting quarterback will determine the offense

Vanderbilt undoubtedly will feature more quarterback runs next season. Shurmur has an NFL-caliber arm, but he was immobile as a pocket passer. Next season’s quarterbacks tout varied degrees of mobility, so the starter will determine how much the offense changes.

Wallace is a good runner who would’ve had a role in this season’s offense if not for his suspension. Hasan stepped in for some of those packages as a dual-threat quarterback this season. Walters is more of a pocket passer like Shurmur. Muhammad is a good runner, but he likely won’t compete for the job immediately.

Neal has rushed for 1,363 yards and 15 TDs in his Ball State career. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Neal is more of a pocket passer, but he’s been an effective runner, especially around the goal line.

Neal has one year of eligibility remaining. He could be a temporary answer, but that could just push the same quarterback question to the 2020 season. Although he missed 12 games over the past two seasons due to injury, Neal made 32 starts in his Ball State career. Vanderbilt’s other quarterback have zero starts.

Vanderbilt can’t repeat past QB mistakes

This looks similar to Vanderbilt’s 2014 situation at quarterback, when it had an FBS-high four different starters in one season and played multiple quarterbacks in eight of 12 games. That year the quarterback carousel featured returners Patton Robinette and Johnny McCrary, LSU graduate transfer Stephen Rivers and freshman Wade Freebeck.

But thinking the Commodores would repeat that 2014 indecision may be unfair. It was Mason’s first season as a head coach, offensive coordinator Karl Dorrell was at odds with him all season, and they inherited most of the quarterbacks from the previous staff.

Shurmur has been the starter for almost three-and-a-half seasons. In 2019, Vanderbilt coaches likely won’t find a long-term solution to that degree, but they must make the right decision. Vanderbilt will play Georgia, Purdue and LSU to begin the 2019 season, so the new starter could make some mistakes that require patience.